Marriage contract no. 221: Brandenburg - Liegnitz

  • Date of contract conclusion: 18. Oktober 1537
  • Place of contract conclusion: Liegnitz

Groom

  • Name: Johann Georg, Kurfürst von Brandenburg
  • GND: 102111588
  • Year of Birth: 1525
  • Year of Death: 1598
  • Dynasty: Hohenzollern (Brandenburg)
  • Confession: Lutherisch

Bride

  • Name: Sophia von Liegnitz
  • GND:
  • Year of Birth: 1525
  • Year of Death: 1546
  • Dynasty: Piasten
  • Confession: Lutherisch

Actors of the Groom

  • Name: Joachim II. Hector von Brandenburg
  • GND: 118557556
  • Dynasty: Hohenzollern (Brandenburg)
  • Relationship: Vater

Actors of the Bride

  • Name: Friedrich II. von Liegnitz
  • GND: 118535692
  • Dynasty: unbekannt
  • Relationship: Vater

Contract content

Article 1 (fol. 160r-160v): Marriage agreed

Article 2 (fol. 160v): Wedding date, consummation of the marriage, and transfer of the bride to the groom regulated

Article 3 (fol. 161r): Dowry set at 12,000 Rhenish gold guilders, to be paid after consummation of the marriage, payment and receipt regulated

Article 4 (fol. 161r): Trousseau regulated, clothes, jewelry, silverware, etc. guaranteed as the bride’s dowry

Article 5 (fol. 161r-161v): donatio propter nuptias set at 12,000 guilders

Article 6 (fol. 161v): Life annuity awarded, rights of use of dowry and donatio propter nuptias regulated, income regulated, the bride is awarded the castle, town, and office of Plauen as her princely seat, rights of use and ownership regulated

Article 7 (fol. 161v): 3,000 guilders per annum guaranteed as income, interest regulated

Article 8 (fol. 161v-162r): Morning gift regulated, at the discretion of Joachim II and Johann Georg of Brandenburg

Article 9 (162r): The bride’s dower and morning gift are exempt from fines and penalties, regulations on the appointment of officials, provision of horses, inheritance of property after the death of both spouses, etc.

Article 10 (fol. 162r-162v): Homage and oaths prescribed, regulations concerning officials

Article 11 (fol. 162v-163r): Regulations in case the widow’s dower and life annuity are destroyed or severely damaged and the annual provision cannot be maintained, protection of life annuity and morning gift guaranteed

Article 12 (fol. 163r-163v): Inspection of the property by the bride’s father’s advisors guaranteed; verification of assurances, such as the annual provision of 3,000 guilders, inspection before the marital bed; Improvements guaranteed if the widow’s property is not sufficient for her status, regardless of whether there will be heirs from the marriage or not.

Article 13 (fol. 163v): The bride renounces all paternal, maternal, and fraternal inheritance as long as heirs from this line are still alive.

Article 14 (fol. 164r): If the bride dies after consummation of the marriage without legitimate heirs, the groom inherits the 12,000 guilders of the dowry, and the bride’s male relatives inherit the jewelry, clothes, etc.

Article 15 (fol. 164r-165r): If the groom dies, regardless of whether there are legitimate heirs or not, the bride receives the dowry, the morning gift, the donatio propter nuptias, and the aforementioned goods, as well as the rights of disposal over them, rights of ownership, reimbursement, and provision by descendants.

Article 16 (fol. 165r-165v): In the event of Sophia’s second marriage after Johann Georg’s death: redemption of the Leibgeding by payment of 24,000 guilders by Johann Georg’s descendants, with 12,000 guilders of the dowry and 12,000 guilders of the Widerlage being paid; alternatively, Sophia may retain the lifelong use of the dower despite remarriage; if redemption occurs, subjects, officials, etc. are released from their obligations of loyalty to Sophia

Article 17 (fol. 165v-166r): If the bride and groom die without biological heirs, the inheritance, including the 12,000 guilders of the dowry, clothes, and jewelry, shall pass to the bride’s father and his male heirs.

Article 18 (fol. 166r): Inheritance of the morning gift regulated, remains with the groom, his father, and heirs.

Article 19 (fol. 166v): Life annuity letter guaranteed.

Article 20 (fol. 166v): Bride is excluded from all debts of the groom and his father, regardless of whether these were incurred before or during the marriage.

Article 21 (fol. 166v): The widow’s property may not be sold or pledged without the consent of the groom and his father; use of the property by the groom’s father and his heirs is excluded, unless Sophia receives financial compensation

Article 22 (fol. 166v-167r): Use of income from ecclesiastical and secular fiefs belonging to widow’s property is regulated; knightly fiefs are excluded.

Article 23 (fol. 167r): Compensation of vassals by Joachim II, Johann Georg, and their heirs is regulated, if applicable.

Article 24 (fol. 167r): Tax revenues on the widow’s and morning gift estates are reserved for Joachim, Johann Georg, and their descendants

Article 25 (fol. 167r-167v): Transfer of the bride and consummation of the marriage and assumption of costs regulated

Article 26 (fol. 167v-168r): If the bride or groom dies before consummation, the marriage contract is void; regulations regarding the non-consummation of the marriage

Article 27 (fol. 168v): Compliance with the contract guaranteed

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 13 (fol. 163v): Renunciation of inheritance by the bride of all paternal, maternal, and fraternal inheritance as long as heirs from this line are still alive

Article 14 (fol. 164r): If the bride dies after consummation of the marriage without legitimate children, the groom inherits the 12,000 guilders of the dowry, and the bride’s male relatives inherit the jewelry, clothes, etc.

Article 15 (fol. 164r-165r): If the groom dies, regardless of whether there are legitimate heirs or not, the bride receives the dowry, the morning gift, the donatio propter nuptias, and the aforementioned goods, as well as the rights of disposal over them, rights of ownership, reimbursement, and provision by descendants.

Article 17 (fol. 165v-166r): If the bride and groom die without biological heirs, the inheritance, including the 12,000 guilders of the dowry, clothes, and jewels, goes to the bride’s father and his male heirs.

Article 18 (fol. 166r): Inheritance of the morning gift is regulated; it remains with the groom, his father, and his heirs.

External authorities involved

Article 19 (fol. 166v): Letter of dower and confirmation by the emperor required.

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

Article 19 (fol. 166v): Letter of dower and confirmation by the emperor required

Commentary

The original contract does not have numbered articles.

References